Rivera Remarks 12-26-11

[JawnyBlaze]

I don't trust Otah 100% either, but we should be ok as long as Bell is backing him up. Just don't count on using Bell somewhere else on the line.

If we don't draft a potential starting OT (LT and send Gross to the right, or new starter RT) they BETTER be confident Otah can stay healthy. Bell has been terrible. I know he's just an UDFA rookie, but he's getting 2 or 3 false starts per game and gets beat like a red headed stepchild by mediocre pass rushers. They can't let him see more than spot duty next year. The occasional play to give the starter a breather.

[hepcat]

OLB is the most glaring need to me, with the third consecutive knee injury to Thomas Davis. I just can't see him coming back and being near the player he was. If he has any interest in being able to walk later in life...he should think about whether he even wants to come back.

Senn has been a decent replacement, but I see him as depth more than starting material. As we've seen this year, never hurts to know you've got a capable guy on the bench.

[rayzor]

If we don't draft a potential starting OT (LT and send Gross to the right, or new starter RT) they BETTER be confident Otah can stay healthy. Bell has been terrible. I know he's just an UDFA rookie, but he's getting 2 or 3 false starts per game and gets beat like a red headed stepchild by mediocre pass rushers. They can't let him see more than spot duty next year. The occasional play to give the starter a breather.

to be fair, rookies starting on the oline are usually prone to bad play, getting pushed around and having a lot of false starts and holding calls. they usually improve in year 2.

[JawnyBlaze]

OLB is the most glaring need to me, with the third consecutive knee injury to Thomas Davis. I just can't see him coming back and being near the player he was. If he has any interest in being able to walk later in life...he should think about whether he even wants to come back.

Senn has been a decent replacement, but I see him as depth more than starting material. As we've seen this year, never hurts to know you've got a capable guy on the bench.

I think Senn is a better OLB than Capt is a CB. By FAR. I'd even say Senn is better at pass coverage than Capt lol. As far as we know for now, Capt is still the starting CB2 if everyone is healthy. I think CB2 needs an upgrade more than OLB.

[JawnyBlaze]

to be fair, rookies starting on the oline are usually prone to bad play, getting pushed around and having a lot of false starts and holding calls. they usually improve in year 2.

Point conceded, but I still wouldn't want to have to rely on Bell as a long term starter.ever.again. The BEST we could hope for is that he makes huge improvements, but I don't think we can or should bank on either that or Otah's ability to stay healthy.

[rayzor]

agreed on not wanting bell to be starter. he's a serviceable and probably a pretty reliable backup.

of course i view otah as being a back up as well...maybe not as reliable, but talented.

i just don't trust him long term.

[(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻]

i trust rivera's assessments more than i ever trusted fox.

if he has faith in our DTs going forward, i'm buying.

the otah thing is the hardest to swallow, but i'll wait and give him the benefit of the doubt.

This pretty much sums up my feelings on the situation. This staff has earned my trust until at least the preseason :)

[Riverboat Ron]

It wouldn't surprise me if Dre Kirkpatrick in the first and either Dontari Poe, Zach Brown or Kevin Reddick in the second are Panthers next year.

[JawnyBlaze]

It wouldn't surprise me if Dre Kirkpatrick in the first and either Dontari Poe, Zach Brown or Kevin Reddick in the second are Panthers next year.

Wouldn't surprise me either, and I'd love any of those as a 2nd round choice. I still feel very bleh about Kirkpatrick, but if Rivera believes in him so will I.

[Hairless Cat]

I cant believe anyone would drink the T Davis/Jeff Otah will be back koolaid

[Woodie]

Wouldn't surprise me either, and I'd love any of those as a 2nd round choice. I still feel very bleh about Kirkpatrick, but if Rivera believes in him so will I.

I think Kirkpatrick is scheme dependent. Where I believe Claiborne would excel in any defensive scheme, Kirkpatrick needs to be in a scheme that fits his skillset. So if Rivera chooses Kirkpatrick, then I will accept that he fits what they want to do on defense.

[rayzor]

I cant believe anyone would drink the T Davis/Jeff Otah will be back koolaid

easy to drink when you look at the talent level of both.

otah is going to be cheap and it would be dumb to outright cut him without looking at him vs. competition next year. at the very least he would be a solid backup.

as far as TD is concerned...wait and see. he used a different surgeon so they are hoping for better results this time. the team likes him a lot (coaches and players) and he's great as a leader on and off the field. i have little doubt that he would restructure to make it easier to keep him.

if both are healthy next year there is no reason to doubt that they would at least be given the chance to play.

[L-TownCat]

I can get behind this...Bell had plenty of work for experience this year....I know plenty of folks would love to see Otah cut loose, but it's not happening.

Go Defense in the first several rounds...

Several- grouping of 5-7 or more.

I agree that we should spend at least 5 and up to all 7 picks on the defensive side of the ball.

side note: not sure how many picks we have. I know we lost a 3rd for Olsen.

[ed bell]

Several- grouping of 5-7 or more.

I agree that we should spend at least 5 and up to all 7 picks on the defensive side of the ball.

side note: not sure how many picks we have. I know we lost a 3rd for Olsen.

I always thought several meant more than two.....but ok.